Wednesday 16 October 1940

Wednesday 16 October 1940

Quiet.

Night: Limited attack on London by single aircraft.

Weather: Fog widespread in Germany and France. Wet and misty night.

Main Activity:

Fog kept all but the more confident and competent Luftwaffe pilots on the ground. Those who flew struck out for Kent and the west of England. Seven caught by the RAF, who flew 275 sorties, failed to return. Six were destroyed in accidents. British losses numbered one plane.

It was not much better during the evening but at least 200 bomber crews chanced the mist and drizzle to raid the British Isles. RAF bombers returning from Italy met with difficulties. Eight Whitleys crashed and a Czech-crewed Wellington came down on the Fight Command headquarters’ tennis court.

The remains of Morley College on the Westminster Bridge Road in Central London, destroyed by a 1,000kg high-explosive bomb at 7.55pm on the night of 15 October 1940. The college was being used as a rest centre for people who had been bombed out of their homes. Nearly 300 people were taking refuge when the high-explosive bomb fell on the main building, ripping it apart. Of the 194 people known to have been in the building, 84 came out unhurt, 55 were killed, and 54 were sent to hospital, two of whom later died. More may have been buried under the debris, their bodies never recovered.